What is Pro-Growth Bias?

Pro-Growth Bias is reflected in the media by the stories and words chosen, which hint and often trumpet that economic, population, and consumption growth is good and essential. We're here to expose the bias and encourage more balanced and thoughtful journalism. Here you can vote, discuss, and even post stories exemplifying the bias.

Today’s Wall of Shame honoree is a classic example of the role of growth mythology in politics. In tough times, it’s “a chicken in every pot.” More often, it’s a job, a better job, rising pay, or an opportunity to get rich. No one running for public office gets elected by telling the truth: we’ve maxed out on squeezing wealth out of one planet serving 7 billion people.
Jeb Bush and Reason magazine get our attention today because they both ignore the brutal, but vital truth about overshoot. The headline for a Reason report on the recent Conservative Political Action Conference...

The editors of China Daily share the Wall of Shame today with its forum readers whose comments are published in Will Push to Up Birthrate Work?
This little piece begins with an Editor’s Note:
“Far fewer couples than expected have applied to the authorities to have a second child, a year after the country eased its family planning policy. Some even said the one-child policy should be fully relaxed, with all married couples strongly encouraged to have two children. Will these efforts to increase the birthrate work? Our forum readers share their opinions here and you are also welcome to add yours.”
This...

I’m not a fan of “population control.” Never use that phrase. I believe couples the world over will voluntarily choose to have very small families if they have full information about the world’s current state of overshoot, and if they have access to affordable contraception. No control needed. So this headline caught my eye:
Addressing Population Growth - Through Freedom, Not Control - Is Crucial to Confronting Climate Disruption
Seemed a likely candidate for the Wall of Fame at Growth Bias Busted. The piece itself, however – written by Truthout staff reporter Dahr Jamail – turns out to be a rather...

The stories, perspectives, and – yes, even the myths – fed to us in the media on a daily basis serve to define and reinforce our culture. The media’s role in buttressing our culture of growth prompted us to launch Growth Bias Busted in 2013. Usually we highlight the pro-growth mythology in the media, but today I want to share and recommend an essay ABOUT the media. In Mainstream Media: Who Gets On and Who Does Not, Ralph Nader spotlights one aspect of this media bias.
“Editors bristle at the notion that they are anything but fair and objective. Sure, they...

Paul B. Farrell and Marketwatch earn Wall of Fame honors today with The 1 Reason Pope Francis is Becoming the World’s Top Capitalist. It’s always notable when financial “experts” and financial news organizations address the destructive force of overpopulation. It's one more chink in the armor of the silent conspiracy, the great taboo against discussing population.
Farrell has a problem with the Pope’s duplicity:
“…he warned capitalism is ‘the root cause of all the world’s ills.’ True he warned that ‘consumerism is a poison.”
Yet:
“…the pope’s created a steady supply of consumers for capitalists….”
In defense of this natural world...